Staging our Home Step 2 :: The Pre-Listing Inspection

Mac, from The BrickKicker came by this weekend.

Before he started his inspection, I asked him if I could follow him around and take pictures
and talk about what he was doing.
(Everything that happens around here is subject to be blogged about.)
He was accommodating and didn't act annoyed at all
by the chick with the Canon stalking him.


We plan on listing our home on March 1, 2012 (one year from today)!


Our first step to staging was to re-finance our home.
To read more about our 2011 goals for staging and selling our house, click here.


As a home stager, I highly recommend one BEFORE you even begin to stage.

What are the benefits of a Pre-Listing Inspection?

• It minimizes the time a house spends on the market by providing proof of the home’s condition.
• Gives prospective buyers assurance that their future home has been inspected by a professional.
• Allows you time to correct problems at your own budget and time table. 
• It promotes a sense of trust with your buyers.
• Real estate professionals can better determine the fair listing price based on the true physical condition of the home.
• It follows the principle: Do unto others as you would have done unto you. Wouldn't you want a home you're considering buying to be in excellent condition, instead of finding "surprises" later?

So, BrickKicker Mac not only kicked the bricks,
he climbed on the roof using his neato adjustable ladder.

While on our roof, he discovered that our metal chimney crown doesn't slope away
from the center, which will cause rust and leakage.


While outside, he checked out our HVAC units which we were sure would need to be replaced
because they are 10 years old.

However, Mac told us that the typical life expectancy for HVACs is 15-20 years, 

and to replace them simply because they "look" 10 years old isn't necessary, 

at the time of selling, they just need to be in proper working order.

He poked around in the attic, where he observed something distressing.

The water heater "flue pipe" 
(which carries the EXTREMELY HOT natural gases that heat our water
& goes up through the house and out the roof)
came detached and the pipe had fallen back inside our attic!
The end of the pipe was aimed toward our inner roof.


The wood is charred and black where the end of the pipe had been.


Mac said that if it were any closer to the wood roof, it would have caught fire!

Yikes!

(Mac put the pipe back in its proper location, while he was inspecting it! How nice of him!)


(We store all our empty boxes for gadgets and gizmos up here a.k.a. kindling.)

Out in the garage, he fired up the water heater.

Mac checked out the house's wiring in the fuse box which he said,
"was done by a lazy electrician."
There are multiple "neutral wires" per screw, and there should only be one wire per screw.

While in the basement, Mac and my hubby, Mark, have a serous talk about Radon

(hence Mark's wide-eyed glare).

46% of all basements test high for Radon.

What is Radon and why should we care?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is found in homes all over the United States. 

It comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground,  into your home through cracks and holes in the foundation. Your home can trap radon inside.

Indoor radon gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It's important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.

Any home can have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. 

 More info on Radon in a home:

Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon

Mac observed minor rot in a few areas (1"). Not bad for a 10-year old deck.
We use Cabot Stain, in the color Red Oak. Cabot is rated the best by Consumer Reports.

While Mac searched for my secret chocolate stash to no avail made sure all the hinges worked,

he gave us some advice about our appliances and the keeping or replacing of them when we sell.

While I had originally though we ought to change all the appliances to stainless steel,

he told us that our appliances are well-kept and don't need to be changed.

In fact, it would be a waste of money to replace them, 

and our kitchen fit the look of the rest of the house and our neighborhood.

So, while I thought we should change out all the appliances to stainless steel,
we don't think we will now.
We will get a new dishwasher, but that's all.

Our report from Mac (which we got back the very next day!) didn't contain any major issues,
and now we have a list to work from.
He gave us peace of mind to know what does and doesn't need to be done.
We are relieved because, a few things that we thought were major issues really weren't.
We will be saving some money NOT buying some high ticket appliances.
It was a good day.


Mac was in our home for 4 hours answering questions and sharing his knowledge with us.




Thank you, Mac.

(Love a man that takes his shoes off before traipsing through your house!)

My hubby, Mark, gets the repair list and I get the decor list...
Off we go...

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